Israeli forces retrieved the body of police officer Ran Gvili—the last hostage held in Gaza—from a northern cemetery on January 26, 2026, over two years after his death in the October 7, 2023 attack. Netanyahu celebrated the IDF operation as fulfilling his promise, aided by Hamas intelligence shared via mediators, completing ceasefire phase one and paving Rafah reopening—yet Palestinians ask why the hype over one body when thousands rot in Israeli dungeons.
While Israel closes this chapter with no hostages left in Gaza since 2014, over 9,000 Palestinians languish in Israeli prisons, many under administrative detention without trial, facing reported torture, rape, and abuse per UN and rights groups.
Hamas emphasized its cooperation to advance truce terms, urging Israel to reciprocate fully. Trump's peace plan shifts to phase two—Hamas disarmament—but families on both sides point out the unfairness: Israel celebrates getting a body back, while Palestinians endure thousands locked up in prisons under ongoing occupation.
